The centenary of the discovery of platinum in the Bushveld Complex (10 November, 1906)

摘要

The earliest authenticated scientific report of the occurrence of platinum in rocks from the Bushveld Complex appears to be by William Bettel on 10 November 1906. Thereafter, prospecting of the chromite rich rocks for platinum proved frustrating. I suggest that the resurgence of interest shown by Dr Hans Merensky in 1921 resulted from his realization that newly panned platinum had a different grain size from that in the chromite layers and indicated a different source rock, which he located, and it became known as the Mercnsky Reef.